It’s the truth: All HVAC filters are not created equal. In fact, the best air filter for your home probably isn’t the one with the highest MERV rating and definitely isn’t one of those blue fiberglass filters that sell for under a couple dollars. The best overall choice in terms of air cleaning and cost effectiveness is the pleated air filter.
Air filters perform two main functions – keeping your furnace from getting clogged with dust and debris and filtering u
nwanted particulates from your indoor air. They must handle these tasks while maintaining smooth airflow through your HVAC system. Like other filters, pleated air filters are designed to collect airborne particles on the filter surface. The pleated design, however, has the added benefit of giving the filter significantly more surface area with which to trap and remove pollutants from your indoor air.
Pleated air filters are usually made of cotton, polyester or a mix of synthetics. Because they collect particulates on their surface, these filters can have electrostatic or carbon filters sandwiched into the material. This allows the filter to work more efficiently with less restriction of airflow in the HVAC system. Carbon-infused filters can help remove odors from the air as well.
The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of pleated filters typically ranges between 5 and 13. The higher the MERV rating, the smaller (and more) particles the filter will capture. Filters with MERV ratings higher than 12, while being more efficient, pose the risk of impeding airflow, which is something you want to avoid. Filters with the highest MERV ratings are designed for use with high-volume, commercial and industrial systems, with larger and more powerful fans.
If you would like to know more about using pleated air filters for your home HVAC system, please contact the experts at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been proudly serving the Twin Cities metro area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about pleated air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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